The sun sets on North America’s most embarrassing politician (for now) – The “Ginger Jihadist” appears on video again – No, Russell Brand ISN’T going to... – And more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

Voters in Toronto chose John Tory as their new mayor, to replace crack-smoking buffoon Rob Ford.  Mayor-elect Tory is a center-right politician who promised refreshingly boring “sensible, competent, accountable” leadership, in contrast with the brash, confrontational, and frequently substance-addled antics of Rob Ford and his brother Doug Ford, who came in second place in the election.  The centerpiece of Tory’s campaign was a proposed tram to ease congestion in downtown Toronto – the kind of thing most mayors worry about, instead of smoking crack.

A second car bombing has killed ten people in Baghdad, just hours after a suicide attacker in a Humvee killed at least 24 more people at a checkpoint south of the city.  Most of those killed were members of Shiite Militias who had fought alongside government troops to take the surrounding area back from Islamic State (IS) militants.   No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings, but IS is suspected.

Across the border in Syria, militants with the Al Nusra Front and other al-Qaeda affiliated groups attacked the government held city of Idlib, and even occupied official buildings for a time.  Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had controlled the northwestern city for two years.  Syria’s civil war is in its fourth year, and has claimed more than 200,000 lives.

Islamic State released a video showing abducted British journalist John Cantlie being forced to act as a “war correspondent” in the northern Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani.  It had to have been shot recently: Cantlie refers to events from the past two weeks, including the US airdrop of weapons and ammunition intended for Kurdish fighters in Kobani.  Some of that airdrop wound up in Islamic State’s hands. 

Another IS video shows the ginger jihadist and suburban Sydney runaway teen Abdullah Elmir.  The barefaced boy is seated amongst bearded militants, gathering to eat, pray and then recite religious texts.  And of course, everyone has an AK47 and makes threatening statements towards “infidel and Arab countries.  Elmir told his parents he was “going fishing” last June, skipped the country while avoiding detection of ASIO and Federal Police, and phoned home from Turkey where he said he was going to cross south to join the loons of IS.

South Africa is offering a reward of around A$25,000 for information about the murder of national football captain Senzo Meyiwa.  The married 27-year old was shot dead by suspected burglars at the home of his reputed girlfriend, singer and actress Kelly Khumalo, who then faced a storm of abuse on social media from idiots who think that harassing a woman who had witnessed a murder is a good idea.  Police have vague descriptions of three suspects who broke into the home and demanded cash, jewelry, and cell phones.

A teenage male student shot and killed his German language teacher during a lesson, the first school shooting in the Baltic State.  The boy was promptly arrested and faces up to ten years in prison.  Local media reported that the kid had posted disturbing statements to his social media accounts, as well as photos of guns.  The weapon he used was registered to his father.  The victim, 56-year old German national Ene Sarap, was once named the local “Teacher of the Year”.

AND.. Russell Brand has ruled out a run for London Mayor.